News summary
Tonda Eckert leads Southampton into a competitive league fixture this afternoon with the Spygate file still open on the desk at the FA. The projected fallout got another going-over in a long read published overnight.
The FA misconduct charge is still outstanding. A ban is possible and Eckert has already watched one pre-season fixture from the stands as a rehearsal.
Tom Fellows has a point to prove if he starts, as flagged by Kelan Sarson this morning. He cost £10m from West Brom last summer, and forty-four games later he is still waiting for a first Saints goal, although eight assists suggest the final ball has not deserted him despite his shooting books being lost somewhere in the West Midlands.
Transfer news
Benfica opened at around €20m for Taylor Harwood-Bellis. Southampton knocked that back on Saturday and are holding out for closer to £30m.
Marco Silva wants him, so a second bid is expected.
What Saints would be losing is not in dispute. Harwood-Bellis returned seven goals and a 7.34 rating in the Championship last season, from a centre-back who starts as many attacks as he breaks up.
Fabrizio Romano reports contact with Feyenoord over Anel Ahmedhodzic. He swapped Sheffield United for Rotterdam a year ago.
Ahmedhodzic was left out of the squad for Feyenoord's league opener. A figure above €10m should be enough to prise him away, though his old club fancy a reunion.
Alfie House, meanwhile, told supporters to relax about Harwood-Bellis.
A huge offer plus a willing player means he goes. Anything less and he stays.
Matchday
Vicarage Road, 1.30 this afternoon. Alessio Dionisi takes his first league game as Watford head coach and he is short at the back for it.
Centre-back Travis Akomeah and forward Jack Grieves are both ruled out, while Jeremy Ngakia is nursing a hamstring problem. Caspar Jander is the only Southampton doubt.
In the cup last weekend, Eckert's side saw off Colchester 2-0 through Cyle Larin off the bench and a first senior goal for Romeo Akachukwu. Pre-season has gone well and the Saints look ready for the season ahead.
Saints begin the league programme on minus four points. Win here and the tally reads minus one.
Saints Marching opinion
Two moves, one Saturday. The €20m from Benfica was rejected within hours, and by the evening the club had opened a line to Feyenoord about Ahmedhodzic.
Read together, that looks like a club with a plan rather than a club being pushed around. Sell high or do not sell at all, and have a backup plan for who comes in next.
The awkward bit is timing. Harwood-Bellis is expected to start this afternoon with his future unresolved, and a promotion push that begins four points down is hard enough without a bidding war running alongside it.
Supporters have been clear about what they want here. No sale below the club's valuation.
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